Saving our species in Adjungbilly Creek

A unique natural resource in the Riverina region, which is home to a number of endangered plant and animal species, is being restored and protected through a collaborative partnership program.

Riverina Local Land Services with assistance from Landcare, nearby landholders and researchers have been working together over the past three years to reinvigorate Adjungbilly Creek to ensure critically endangered ecological communities are enhanced for future generations.

Riverina Local Land Services, Project Manager, Cherie White said the project had identified a number of species that were under threat including: Macquarie perch, Booroolong frog, White Box Yellow Box Blakely’s Red Gum woodland and Coolac-Tumut Serpentinite Shrubby woodland.

“We’ve been working to gain an understanding of the extent of the population of these endangered species as well as undertaking works to assist in their recovery,” she said.

“In the past three years, we have improved habitat for endangered species and ecological communities through the protection and restoration of 215 hectares of the catchment by revegetating gullies to improve water quality, protected areas of native vegetation by installing 35 kilometres of fencing and re-established corridors of native vegetation by planting 24,000 native trees and shrubs.

“Stock have also been removed from the area and we’ve established 14 alternative stock watering points to protect the catchment.”

Ms White said the project had involved extensive community input through workshops, field days, local school participation and presentations from key experts.

“We have worked with a range of stakeholders including landholders in the Adjungbilly Catchment, Riverina Highlands Landcare network, NSW Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Bongongo School and Taronga Zoo,” she said.

“Funding was also offered to landholders to undertake targeted on-ground restoration and conservation works to aid species recovery.”

Fourth generation farmer from Adjungbilly, Paul Graham, is restoring a section of the creek that flows through his property, and working with a number of adjoining landholders and the local primary school to complete the project.

“The project has been fantastic from a landholder’s point of view and the results are starting to show,” he said.

“We’ve increased the water quality in our creeks and streams, not only for ourselves but for generations to come. The big picture is that the whole environment is the winner!”

This project was supported by Riverina Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme, NSW Catchment Action and Saving our Species program.